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What if bowel prep doesn't work???

My ObGyn has asked me to do a fleet enema the night before my surgery. #1. Eew. #2. I am chronically constipated and afraid the enema might not work. I can eat prunes, bran, take stool softener, drink tons of water, Metamucil, ground flax seeds, etc and will not have results for several days. Of course, I have been doing all these things for the last few weeks to prepare for my surgery, but do any of you have this problem? Have you done a fleet enema before? Any advice would be most welcome!

I am the same way... its awful... My doctor told me to skip the fleet and take two dulcolax at 5pm prior the day before surgery... They didnt do a thing...So I had to tell the dr that I it didnt work. Since surgery last week, I have been taking metamucil everyday because the constipation/gas hurt post-op so bad... I feel much better and more regular with the metamucil. ( I probably should have done the fleet)...I have had this issue forever with the bowels.

How badly do they want you cleaned out? Ask about Golytely. Its used for colonoscopy preps and it would work. Its by prescription so it up to your Dr, but be sure to tell him your prep might not work otherwise. Good luck.

The name GoLytely absolutely kills me. You definitely do not go "lightly!"

All kidding aside...I have IBS and had to have a colonoscopy a few years ago. The prep was 4 dulcolax and the big bottle of GoLytely. For my TVH, I had to use the magnesium citrate. The colonoscopy prep definitely worked better and faster. You may want to ask your doctor about that one.

I will def ask my dr about that! I'm so worried that my surgery might be cancelled if the enema doesn't work, or that if the surgery goes ahead, my dr might nick my colon/bowels, and I would die of septic shock.